Spin exchange in the excitation of spin-polarized Na atoms by Ne/sup +/-ion impact

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.34.3684· OSTI ID:5110288

Jitschin, W; Osimitsch, S; Reihl, H; Mueller, D W; Kleinpoppen, H; Lutz, H O

The 3s-3p excitation of spin-polarized Na atoms by Ne/sup +/ ions has been studied for impact energies E/sub lab/ = 200 eV to 6 keV, i.e., in the adiabatic regime. The total excitation cross section and the three Stokes polarization parameters of the fluorescence light have been measured. The linear polarization of the light shows a preferential excitation of the chemically bondm/sub l/chemically bond = 1 magnetic substates. The circular polarization probes the spin orientation of the excited 3p state. At the highest impact energies investigated the experimental data are compatible with conservation of spin orientation during the collision. With decreasing impact energy, the spin polarization of the final 3p state becomes smaller than the spin polarization of the initial 3s state. This apparent spin depolarization is attributed to the exchange interaction between the Na valence electron and the unfilled Ne/sup +/ 2p/sup 5/ core in the quasimolecule formed during the collision.

• Research Organization: Fakultat fuer Physik, Universitat Bielefeld, 4800 Bielefeld, Federal Republic of Germany
• OSTI ID: 5110288
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Vol. 34:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
NEON IONS
ION-ATOM COLLISIONS
SODIUM
EV RANGE 100-1000
EXCITATION
FLUORESCENCE
KEV RANGE 01-10
POLARIZED BEAMS
SPIN EXCHANGE
SPIN ORIENTATION
ALKALI METALS
ATOM COLLISIONS
BEAMS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EV RANGE
ION COLLISIONS
IONS
KEV RANGE
LUMINESCENCE
METALS
ORIENTATION
640304* - Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics- Collision Phenomena